Forced disappearance / Fear of torture - IRN 001 / 0606 /OBS 076

The Observatory has been informed by the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LDDHI) of the detention of Mr. Saleh Kamrani, lawyer and human rights defender, in Tehran.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Iran.

Brief description of the situation:

According to the information received, on June 14, 2006 at around 3pm, Mr. Kamrani called his wife while he was on his way home. Two hours later, as he had not arrived at home, Mrs Kamrani tried to call him but found his mobile phone switched off. She then tried to get some news of him in the hospitals and police stations, in vain.

According to his wife, Mr. Kamrani would be detained at the Evin prison, and would be prosecuted by the Revolutionary Court, although no charge has been officially pronounced against him. However, this information could not be officially confirmed, including by the Ministry of Intelligence.

The Observatory fears that Mr. Kamrani’s arrest may be linked with his activities in favour of minorities’ rights. Indeed, Mr. Saleh Kamrani recently defended some political prisoners who were arrested in the last weeks, during the repression of massive demonstrations protesting against the publication, on May 12, 2006, in a state-owned newspaper, of a cartoon which had offended many Azeri Turks citizens. He also defended members of minor ethnic groups for several years, and had reportedly been subjected several times to acts of harassment form the authorities due to these activities, including threatening phone calls.

The Observatory fears for Mr. Kamrani’s safety, as no public information has been issued on his whereabouts.

Action requested:

Please write to the authorities of Iran urging them to:

i. guarantee under all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Saleh Kamrani, and in particular ensure that he will not be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment during his detention;

ii. take prompt action in order to locate Mr. Saleh Kamrani, make public his whereabouts, and ensure his immediate release;

iii. conduct a fair, impartial and independent inquiry into these events in order to identify the authors, bring them to justice and pronounce sentences proportional to the gravity of their crimes;

iv. put an end to all acts of harassment against human rights defenders in Iran;

v. conform with the provisions of the Declaration on Humans Rights Defenders, in particular article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, article 9c, which states that everyone has the right “to offer and provide professionally qualified legal assistance or other relevant advice and assistance in defending human rights and fundamental freedoms”, and article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually or in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”;

vi. more generally, ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Iran in accordance with international human rights standards.

Please also write to diplomatic representations of the Islamic Republic of Iran in your respective countries.

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Paris - Geneva, June 20, 2006

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need. The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.